Posts categorized "Art by Rachel"

October 04, 2017

Our pets, and all of God's creatures, are such a source of joy and delight, aren't they? Over the past tragic days especially, I've experienced a sense of calm and peace when I've been outside with my donkeys....and it's made me appreciate the gift that they are to me.

I know you probably feel the same way about your animals. It's hard to explain, but they just make life feel better, softer somehow.

My publisher wants to help us celebrate World Animal Day by offering my Flash books, and my friend Dave Burchett's dog-themed books, for 50% off today!

This might be a great time to stock up on books to give, or to keep for your own pleasure!

As an added gift, I've created a mixed media art piece that you can download and print.

This piece was inspired by the adorable birds that frequent my back yard. I absolutely love to watch them - and they remind me of God's infinite creativity in our beautiful world. The tiny chickadees are among my favorites.

October 04, 2016

I would love for you to come to my PJ Party on Friday night (Oct. 7) at 7 pm!

Now, not everyone will fit into my living room, so this will be a VIRTUAL party, via Facebook Live! All you need to do is hop over to Flash the Donkey's Facebook page, and I'll be posting live video so you can join in!

There will be music, games, food, and a special book reading...and of course Real Life Flash will be there too.

So, gather your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, and any other kids in your life, and let's have some fun together!

Please wear your jammies!

PS There's a video invitation on Flash's page with a sneak peek at the "party set" we've been working on! (hint: there are life-sized storybook characters involved)

September 29, 2016

You never have to guess what he is feeling because it's written all over his face.

And then there's his body language:

When Jed is excited, he leaps on top of tables.

When he is mad, he harrumphs up a pile of hay bales.

When he's annoyed, he crosses his arms and looks away.

When he's happy, he grabs a ukelele and belts out a tune.

Jed is the goat who shoots from the hip, speaks his mind, jumps to conclusions, and commands the room.

He's just like that "annoying little brother" that reeeally drives you crazy sometimes.

But you can't live without him because, after all, he's the one that brings the party with him wherever he goes.

Today, we celebrate the "Jeds" we know and love. Who is it that makes you laugh, drives you nuts sometimes, and lives life to the hilt?

Please share your own special "Jed" story today for another chance at a signed book!

I loved hearing about all the special "Rubys" in your lives yesterday! I got emails, blog comments, Facebook comments and tweets, telling me about the wonderful mother-hens who take care of everyone around them. The winner of the signed Flash the Donkey Makes New Friends book is:

September 21, 2016

My brand new book, written especially for children and starring my dear friend Flash, will be out on October 1!

(Pause for nervous giggles!)

Here is the official synopsis:

"A Stray donkey with a penchant for inventions is taken in by a mismatched collection of barnyard friends. Flash the Donkey Makes New Friends is the heartwarming story of a not-so ordinary donkey who needs a special place to belong. Flash is the inquisitive type who loves to invent things and solve problems, but his curiosity sometimes gets him into trouble! With the help of his new-found friends–Jed the goat, Carson the pig, and Ruby the chicken–Flash manages to turn problems into adventures and learns valuable lessons along the way.

Inspired by Rachel Anne Ridge's memoir, Flash, names one of Publishers Weekly's Best Summer Books of 2015, kids will fall in love with this endearing donkey as they learn to appreciate the value of true friendship."

This book was both harder (and more fun) than I could have imagined. As a mural artist, I went into it thinking, "Pfff, how hard can it be to create 9x10 inch pages?"

Turns out, pretty hard.

I drew and re-drew. I painted and repainted. I Photoshopped and re-Photoshopped.

I obsessed. Fretted. Gave myself hip bursitis from sitting in my chair for weeks on end.

And of course, I fell in love with my characters.

Above all, I wanted to create a story that kids would genuinely LIKE. One that pulled them in and made them laugh. I wanted a book that parents would enjoy reading out loud, possibly over and over again. You know how that goes, right? LOL

Between now and October 1, I'll introduce you to the characters and tell you why I chose them!

Until then, here is one of my favorite pictures of Flash:

You can pre-order Flash the Donkey Makes New Friends on Amazon – and I'll be honest, I'll love it if you do! Buy it for your kids, grandkids, students, and friends. You can even buy it for yourself, just because you know Flash personally and should probably have one of your own!

May 13, 2016

I can't believe it's been a couple of months since I last posted! I can hardly remember what I was doing in February. I did not mean to leave you hanging, but I sort of dropped everything to work on some stuff. It's that unitasking syndrome again. I can now actually ONLY do one thing at a time. Multi-tasking isn't even an option. You'll have to forgive me while I retrace my steps so I can figure out just where I am right now.

Some of you might already know about this, but I've been working on a children's book. Well, it's not "out" yet, but it IS done.

Ta Daaaa!

Flash the Donkey Makes New Friends will be out on October 1, and (amazingly) is already available for preorder on Amazon. I LOVED getting to write and illustrate this charming story! Here's the official description:

Children will fall in love with Flash the Donkey as they learn the value of true friendship and what it means to be a good friend to others.

Hee-haw! A stray donkey with a penchant for inventions is taken in by a mismatched collection of barnyard friends. Flash the Donkey Makes New Friends is the heartwarming story of a not-so-ordinary donkey who needs a special place to belong.

Flash is the inquisitive type who loves to invent things and solve problems, but his curiosity sometimes gets him into trouble! With the help of his new-found friends―Jed the Goat, Carson the Pig, and Ruby the Chicken―Flash manages to turn problems into adventures and learns valuable lessons along the way.

Inspired by Rachel Anne Ridge’s memoir Flash, named one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Summer Books of 2015, kids will fall in love with this endearing donkey as they learn to appreciate the value of true friendship.

And although I loved it doing it, I literally had no brain cells left by the time I turned in my last illustration. Not one. Somehow all that drawing and coloring was waaaay harder than I thought it would be! I found myself living like an old crazy hunchback woman who never bathed or changed her clothes, up in the bell tower (ok it was my upstairs office), only coming down for food and to squint at the light every now and then while I finished it.

Other than that, it was a piece of cake (wink). I should probably tell you that it's geared for children ages 3-7, aaaand the adults who love them! The story makes me smile, and it's one I hope you'll enjoy, too.

This is something that is SO DEAR TO MY HEART, because I think all of us struggle to find "that thing" we were made to do.

The book (which is really like a workbook) is going to be a resource for the Belong Tour, (formerly Women of Faith) which features these amazing ladies. The tour will be coming to a city near you:

Made to Belong is also available for preorder on Amazon, and I'll tell you more about it (and the Belong Tour) as we get closer to the August 1 publication date!

Phew. I started to add to this post all the other stuff that went down but then my hunchback tendency came back and I thought, hey why pack all of this "retracing my steps" into one single post? Give these poor people (and your spine) a rest.

Okay, next post will be about the other happenings during my (previously unannounced but now completed) blog break.

January 07, 2016

I mean, I know I've struggled poorly a lot, but as I reflect, there are the good kinds of struggles as well. You know, the kind where you say, "Oh, good, that struggle is over!"

Hey, you know what, I just noticed the earrings I'm wearing in this picture:

WHERE ARE THEY??? These earrings are my favorites, and I didn't even realize they'd gone missing! HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN GONE?

Now I want them back.

Okay, back to my subject. I'll try not to think about my earrings. The earrings that are my favorites. The ones I can't find.

I'll stop.

On to my point: I want to introduce you to Emily Thomas, a friend of mine who I met through blogging. She is a talented artist, blogger, mom and podcaster, who loves to encourage moms in their journeys. She's honest, funny, and sweet, as you can tell from her About Page!

Emily asked me to be a guest on her podcast, Mom Struggling Well, and I loved getting to share a bit of my own story as a fellow struggler..who is just far enough ahead to be able to reassure others coming along behind that it's going to be all right.

I hope you'll listen to our conversation! Spoiler: you'll learn one unexpected way I show love to my husband. You can find our conversation right here:

September 28, 2015

I have such exciting news...I've been busting at the seams to tell you about it!

Flash the Donkey is becoming a children's book!

My wonderful publisher, Tyndale, will publish the book next fall so it will be in stores well in time for Christmas 2016.

I am both writing and illustrating the picture book, geared for children ages 3-7 or so.

And, I probably don't need to mention this, but this is an absolute lifelong dream come true.

Flash will come to life as an homeless donkey who is taken in by an engaging group of barnyard friends: a chicken named Ruby, a goat named Jed, and Carson the pig. Together, they have adventures, learn life lessons, and have a fun time doing it.

The story is really cute, and fun to read...and you'll find wonderful lessons to share with your child. I cannot WAIT to read this aloud to my granddaughters, who love nothing better than to sit on someone's lap and read books about animals.

What a coincidence, because I love nothing better than to hold them on my lap and read books about animals to them!

If I've been quiet around here, now you know why. (Confession: I'm also deep into another writing project, with a looming deadline...and truth be told, that's the REAL reason I've been holed up for the past several weeks.)

So....

Beans: officially spilled.

Arms: black and blue from pinching myself

There you have it, my friends. All the beans.

Well, most of them anyway. :)

With a grateful heart, Rachel

PS You can find out all about Flash the Donkey–the true story version–right here.

May 18, 2015

So, people have been telling me that they've been enjoying Flash with their kids and spouses, often reading aloud to each other, or stealing the book back and forth. I've gotta say,

I LOVE THAT!

It just so happens that Tyndale and I had this idea to do a "Flat Flash" contest, you know, like the famous Flat Stanley activity that nearly every elementary age kid loves to do? We've had it on the calendar, and what do you know but one of my long-time Company Girls, Joyce Moy, beat me to it!

Joyce and her daughters made their own Flat Flash and took Instagram pictures of their adventures! Seeing her photos just makes me smile! Check it out:

Now, it's YOUR chance!

Let's all be kids again and do some Flat Flash adventures, too! If you have kids at home, I hope you'll let them in on the fun. After all, Flash would love to travel your world with you! It will be a contest of creativity, and a great way to spark conversation.

And guess what: We'll even throw in some prizes to sweeten the pot! Here's how to participate in the Flat Flash contest:

1. Download and print off your choice of Flash images.

Hard to choose, they are both so cute...so maybe both?? That's what I'm doing.

March 24, 2014

I started talking about creating a home sanctuary through peace, order and beauty last week, and today I'm picking up where I left off.

When you think of what you want your home to feel like, one of the first words that comes to mind is "Peaceful."

YES! I want peace!!! Give it to me NOW!

I want to walk in the door and leave the stresses of the outside world behind. I want my interactions with family members to be pleasant. I want some time to relax and unwind. I want to be free from worry. I want to feel at rest.

Somehow, we think that peace should just happen naturally and easily. But scripture tells us that we should seek peace and pursue it. It takes action and intention to bring about a peaceful home environment.

I'll spend a few posts on establishing peace so we can take our time on it.

I'd be remiss if I didn't start with having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ as the foundation for ultimate peace. This is what we are created for, and without it, we'll spend our lives in pursuit of fulfillment in a thousand ways that will always fall short.

The Bible tells us that by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 5:1). It's so simple, that we can miss the grace that is given to us just by believing in Him. It's in surrendering our lives to Him and acknowledging Him as creator and savior that our souls find that rest we are searching for.

He is our peace. (Eph. 2:14) This is where we start. We begin with a clean slate - freedom from the guilt of the past, the failures and shortcomings that haunt us, the sins we cannot conquer on our own. By His grace, we are set free to live in peace, to walk in freedom and to find our purpose in life.

Peace is knowing where you'll spend eternity.

Peace is knowing that you'll never walk alone.

Peace is knowing that all things work together for good.

Peace is knowing that God is watching over you and caring for you.

Peace is knowing that He has a purpose for you.

Let's think about that today. Let His peace wash over you as you rest in the knowledge that He loves you more than anything else. You are precious to Him. He wants to draw you close and be your Comforter and Healer.